Combined amplifying megaphone and reflex resonator for sound-emitting machines



Aug 21'. 1928. 1,681,208

' F. D. ARNOLD comme mums@ mmrnona zum nmax -nasonATon-Fon sounn mlm-Inen cmuss Filed 41.22, 192s 2 sneeuw-shew` 1 agi;

Aug. 2l. 1928.

F D ARNOLD COMBINED AMPLIFYING MEGAPHONE AND REFLEX RESONATOR FOR SOUNDEMITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 22, 1926 2 ,Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug.21, 1928.

carri-:n i ser Ares 1,581,203 Parleur Erice.

EEANKD. Annota `or nuiunorn'n IOWA.

`ceivnerrrnn AMrmEYiNG MEeArnonE Ann REFLEX RESONATOR Een souNn-EMITTINGMACHINES.

Application 'filed January '22, v'19.26. 'Serial No. A82,997.`

An object 'of this invention is toprovide means foramplifying,`retiecting and reso` nating soundsy emitted from a machine.

A furtherobject of :this invention is Yto provide means tor` reflecting:and resonating sound to and Vthrough an amplifying device. 'g Y Afurther object of this invention is to provide means iorreceivingsoundfrom a machine :between va reflecting and resonating device and anVamplifying device.

A further object 'of this'in-vention 'is to provide an improvedlconstruction for an amplifying device.Av l

A further object of thisjinventionis to provide an improved.construction'for a s econdary or supplemental vamplifying and resonating deviceadapted to be used with a .primary amplifying `device in the treatmentof sounds Vemuniting from a machine.

A further object 'of this :invention iste provide improved means forreceiving sounds, emanating from .a machine, VWithin an amplifyingdevice.

A 'further object o f this invention fis-fte provide animproved"construction `ttor. a secondary or. supplemental amplifying,`reflectand resonating "device adapted -to be used `With a primaryamplifyingand^resov nating-device in the treatment of lsounds emanatingfrom a machine. e

My invention consists in 4the construction, arrangement Vand combinationof elements hereinafter set forth, .pointed out fin Vthe claims andillustratedby the accompanying drawing in Which Figure 1 is af'rontelevation of the complete machine. Figure 2 -is a side elevation of thesame. `Figure '3 is a horizontal se c tion on the indicated-lineotFigure2. Figure t is a vertical section Von theindicated line 1 -4L- ot Figure.1.V Figure-5 is a detail cross-sectionof oneV of the harpsn employed intheymachine, onan enlarged scale. Figure 6 isa detail vertical sectionof oneV of the'harps employed ingthe'machine, on ,an enlarged scale.Figure `7 is a detailplane of a port-ion of the device il lust'ratingthe means employed to control thestrings or Wires.

In the construction of the machine vas shown, the numeral 10 designatesa housing consisting of a bottom, top, yand tivo side Walls rigidlyconnected, substantially rectangular in `form. open at its front andback and madeof suitable material such as Wood. rPhehousing may be ofany suitable dimensions but, for convenience, is illustrated as of aheight one-third greater than its Width and oi a depth one-thirdAgreater than the height. An oblong vhele is formed in the topo'i'lthehousing 10, one side margin thereoiifbeing located substantiallyon the medi-an line lof said top, and a receiving device,n or throatmember, 117 offtruncated pyramid-al forrmis mounted on said top with itslarger hase opening registering vwith said hole. The upper, smaller`opening ofthe receiving device or throat member is adapted to besurmounted `by `and receive sound `from the tone-bar of a phonograph,graphophone or otlieisound emitting machine or instrument. The receivingdevice or throat lmember l11 preferably is made 'otvvood and o'f hollow'form and the rearniargin thereof is-spaced from `the rear margin of thetop ofthe housing a distance substantially equal; to one-'fourth thedepth off said housing. A reinforcing strip or rim 12, preerahl-ymade ofWood, is mounted on and iixed to the inner faces of the sides, topand-bottom of the A vplurality of harps arey housing 1 0.

Wall-s,

mounted in and iitted snugly to the top and bottom of the housing i1 0.

A supplemental device is constructed and arranged for use in and withthe housing 1 0, comprising a minor housing 13 having a bottom, a top,`side `Walls and a rea-r Wall, or 'bacleplafte 111-. r'The minor housing13 is of' less `height and Width than the housing 1()v and is adapted totelescope loosely ltherein at the rea-r of the hole opening trom thethroat memberjl'l. The minor housing 13 -is spaced from thetop, bottomand Walls of the housing 10 4by the -rim or strip 12. YThe bach plate 14is of greater'height and Width than the minor housing 1 3',V is `rigidlysecured thereto and is adapted to'over-lay-thegrear margin oi thehousing' 10 and beiixed, preferably by screws, to vthe strip or rim r12.Sound-posts 16, 17 a1.'e`-fiXed'toand entend in alinement in oppositedirections -froml the central portion of the inner marginal portionsolf-theltop and bottom, respectively, of the minor holising 13 and areadapted to engage inner surfaces of the top and rbottom respectivelyeithe primary housing 10.

The side Walls 4to a and bottom oi' the minor housing 13 are rigidly'joined together and are overlaidby and secured to router frames 1S ofWood so that the inner surfaces of the Walls, top, bottom and back-plateshall be plane and smooth. A plurality of strings 19 are mounted inembracing relation on the frames 18 of the minor housing, independent ofeach other, and extend Wholly around and not across the opening definedby the top, bottoni, and side Walls thereof of said housing. One end ofea'h string is formed with a loop 2O which embraces a tuning pin 21seated in the usual manner in one end portion of the top frame 18 of theminor housing 13 and the opposite end portion of said string is extendedthrough and is adapted to be Wound on said tuning pin in a commonmanner.y The tuning pins 21 for successive strings 19 are arrangedalternately at opposite ends of the top frame 18 of housing 13. i Thestrings 19 may be made of any suitable material, such as piano Wire, areadapted to be tuned, by stretching through the medium of the tuning pins21, to desired tones in harmony with the sounds received in the housing,preferably on lreys, A, l), lil, Gr, of a musical stale and in harmonythere- With so as to compass the range or pitch of sounds received.

Harps constructed as hereinafter' described are mounted in number andposition as desired'transversely of the housing 10 and on the side ofthe throat member 11 away from the minor housing and similar harps maybe positioned within the minor housing if de` sired.

All of the harps mentionedr above are of the'same construction andpreferably vary only in size and selective tuning. Each harp comprises atop-bar 22, a bottom-bar 23, side-bars 24, 25 and cross-bars 26, 27 and28, preferably made of Wood, framed and rigidly connected. A pluralityof strings 29 are Wound around the harp transversely and extend acrossthe openings therein substantially parallel With the top, bottom andcross-bars. A plurality of tuning pins are provided in the side-bars 24,25 in each harp. Each string 29 is formed With a loop on one end adaptedto extend around a tuning pin and the opposite end of said stringextends through and is adapted to be Wound on the same pin whereby thesaid string may be stretched around the harp transversely and be tunedto the desired tone by said stretching. Alternate strings may be securedand controlled by tuning pins alternately arranged in the side bars 24,25, respectively.

When the harps are mounted in the housing as shown yand the minorhousing is mounted in the primary housing as shown and the tone-arm ismounted on the apex of the throat member from the tone-arm into the.space between the tivo inner harps, these .sounds are received by thetwo harpe. in the minor housing 18 and thence to the strings 19 Woundthereon. These sounds' with substantially the same delicacy, shader ortimbre originally emanated by the voice or instrument of origin. Carefulexperilment extending over a considerable period has failed to detectany impairment vor diminution in volume, tone or timbre in the use ofthis machine in receiving, amplifying, reflecting and resonatingemanations from sound-emitting machines, as compared with the originalsounds transmitted to the receiving machine.

This device or ymachine is applicable to receiving sets of radioapparatus, telephone and telegraph, both wired Vand Wireless, as Well asto phonographs, graphophones, gramophonesv and the like, and I do notdesire to be understood as limiting myself in any particular as to theuse or application ofthis machine, nor to the precise consti-uo tion andarrangement set forth, since they may be modified Within the scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim as my inventionv 1.7A combined amplifying megaphone and reiiexresonator for sound emitting machines comprising a housing, a receivingdevice mounted on and communicating thru the top thereof, said receivingdevice being formed as a truncated pyramid adapted to receive sound atits smaller end, a minor housing mounted in the first housing, a harpsurrounding the minor housing, a back plate for said minor housing and aplurality of Yharps selectively .arranged Within the first-'namedhousing.

2. A combined amplifying megaphone and reflex resonator for soundemitting machines comprising la housing, a receiving device mounted onand communicating thru the top thereof, said receiving device beingformed as a truncated pyramid adapted to receive sound at its smallerend, a minor housing mounted in the first housing, a harpsurroundingcthe minor housing, a back plate for said minor housing and aplurality of harps selectively arranged Within the first` named housing,said minor housing being spaced from the inner surface of the firsthousing, and sound posts fixed to and extending in alignment in oppositedirections from the minor housing and engaging inner surfaces of theiirst-named housing.

3. In a combined amplifying inegaphone and-reflex resonator for soundemitting ma-` chines, a housingf'foi'med with anopeningfin its `top, areceiving device of truncated pyramidal forni mounted on said "housingand comn'iunicating at its larger open Vend with said opening andadapted -to 'receive sound atlits smaller-open end and-aplurality ofindependent harps selectively-arranged in andtransversciy of saidhousing.Y

4. In a combined amplifying megaphone and reflex resonator for soundemitting machines, a housing formed with an opening at itsn top, areceiving device of truncated pyramidal form mounted thereon andcommunicating thru said opening and an independent harp mountedtransversely of and substantially filling the width and height of saidhousing.

5. In a combined amplifying megaphone and reflex resonator for soundemitting machines, a housing, a harp formedon andv covering the sides,bottom and top thereof and a. back plate for said housing, together witha sound-receiving device adjacent and in position to introduce soundinto the open end of said housing.

6. In a combined amplifying megaphone and reiiex resonator for soundemitting machines, a housing formed with' frames on its top, bottom andsides and a back plate extending across the housing and across saidframes and harps mounted on said frames and surrounding the top, bottomand sides of the housing, together with a soundreceiv ing deviceadjacent and in position to introduce sound into the open end of saidhousing.

7. In a combined amplifying megaphone and reflex resonator for soundemitting machines, a housing having frames on its top, bottom and sides,timing pins mounted in rows adjacent to angles of said housing, stringsfixed at one end each to said housing adjacent to an angle thereof andextending around said frames to and adapted to be wound on Said tuningpins, toV

gether with a sound-receiving device adjacent and inV position tointroduce sound into the open end of said housing.

8. In a combined amplifying magaphone and reflex resonator for soundemitting ma chinos, a housing formed with side, top and bottom frames,tuning pins arranged in parallel rows adjacent angles of said housingand strings formed with a loop in one end each adapted to embraceatuning pin, said strings extending around said frames and having theiropposite ends attached to the same tuning pins and adapted to be woundthereon, together with a sound-receiving device adjacent and in positionto introduce sound into the open end of said housing. 4

9. In a combined amplifying megaphone yand reflex resonator for soundemitting machinos, -a jhousing `formed-:with side, top and bottoniframes, tuning pfns ,Y arranged .in pa 'allellrow's adjacent'iangles ofsaid'ihous ing and strings -fojrined Iwithialoop in one endeach adaptedtoA embrace a 'tuning pin, said strings extending around saidvfiamcs and'having their foppositc ends attached Vto the same tuning pins andadapted `to 'be wound thereon, alternate strings being lattached to pinsin alternate rows, together with a sound-receiving device adjacent andin position to introduce` sound into the open end of said housing.l

l0. In a combined amplifying megaphone and reflex resonator for soundemitting machines, a housing formed with side, top and bottom frames,tuning pins arranged in parallel rows adjacent angles of said housingand strings formed with a loop in one end each adapted to embrace atuning pin, said strings extending around said frames and having theiropposite ends attached to the.

same tuning pins and adapted to be .wound thereon, together with a backplate for said housing and sound posts oppositely extendA ing from frontmembers 4of said top and bottom frames, and a sound-ieceiving device'adjacent and in position to introduce sound into the open end of saidhousinff.

Il. In a combined amplifying megaphone and reflex resonator for soundemitting ma# chines, a housing formed with side, top and bottom frames,timing pins arranged in parallel rows adjacent angles of said housing'and strings formed with a loop in one en each adapted to embrace atuningpin, said strings extending around said frames and having theiropposite ends attached to the same tuning pins and adapted to be woundthereon, alternate strings being attached to pins in alternate rows,together with a back plate for said housing and sound posts oppositelyextending from front members of said top and bottom frames, and asoundreceiving device adjacent and in position to introduce sound intothe open end of said housing.

12. In a combined amplifying megaphone and reflex resonator for soundemittino` ina- `chines, a housing, a sound-receiving Cevice openingthrough the top of said housing, a harp adapted'to be removably and'replaceably mounted in said housing and compris ing a frame having atop bar, bottom bar,`

side bars and cross bars, a plurality of `tuning pins mounted inparallel rows in the side bars and 'a plurality of strings each yformedwith a loop in one end adapted tov extend around a tuning pin, theopposite end lll) opening through the top of said housing, a harpadapted to be removably and replaceably mounted in saidhousng andcomprisinga frame having a top bar, bottom bar, side bars and crossbars, apluralty of tun- Y ing pins mounted in parallel rows in the sidebars and a plurality of strings each formed with a loop in one endadapted to extend around a tuning pin, the opposite end of each stringbeing adapted to extend 10 thru and wound on the same pin,said stringVextending around said side bars conjuncof May, 1925i" FRANK D. ARNOLD.

